Fenwick Skipsey survives Trafalgar and a massive mining disaster on the Tyneside, before relishing his involvement in the epoch-making success of George Stephenson's 'Rocket' at Liverpool. His attraction to a spirited girl gives him far more difficult circumstances to cope with. Cannon shot and underground explosions had not prepared him at all for the subtle and potentially more devastating social hurdles gradually and remorselessly ranged against them both. Their multiple differences of background, education and faith also had to be worked out in the shadow of sporadic but persistent attentions of a deranged murderer. Many have struggled long and hard with the former, and these two could well have done without the latter.